Suicide Silence’s Mark Heylmun has issued a statement, one month after guitarist Chris Garza announced he would take a break from the group. Heylmun also revealed Soreption‘s Ian Waye as Garza’s live replacement.
On Friday (9th), Heylmun issued the below statement via social media:
“Hey everyone, with the news of Garza’s hiatus I thought I’d share some things I feel pertinent.
I’ve been in this band since 2005. I did not start this band, but I’ve been a part of creating every piece of music (for better or worse) that you’ve heard minus the EP and early demos. I did play the EP release show at showcase theatre in my first months of joining.
I took a break from the band for about 9 months in 2019 because I was preparing for my father’s passing who was fighting cancer and I knew it was only a matter of time. I never shared that publicly because I didn’t want my dad to know I was taking the break because of him. I’d have taken a longer break but was asked to come back to help write what became Become The Hunter.
I fully support/respect Garza’s decision to take a break. That said, SS is a part of my blood and DNA at this point and this band has always been a 5 headed dragon and the show must go on, and it will.
I speak for the guys when I say we’re stoked to have a ripping fill in step up to the plate for all upcoming shows. We are bringing our friend @themilkywaye of Soreption on board as fill in for the upcoming European and Asian tours. For anyone familiar with Ian’s playing you know he has a heavy right hand and can rip with the best of em. If it’s brief or if it’s for a while, we are gonna bring some serious firepower to every stage we step foot on as we always have. Can’t wait to see you all on the road!” – Mark Heylmun”
Despite the temporary lineup change, Suicide Silence are set to move forward with their touring plans. The band will support Slaughter to Prevail on the European leg of the Grizzly Winter Tour 2026, which kicks off tomorrow, Tuesday (13th) in Tilburg, The Netherlands, with Dying Fetus also part of the lineup.
Garza seems to have been focused on his podcast, known as the Garza Podcast, since his initial hiatus reveal made in early December.
Read Garza’s original statement below:
“What’s up everyone, As some of you have noticed, I’ve missed the last couple Suicide Silence shows. It’s because I’m on a hiatus from the band. SuSi has been on my brain every day since 2002 with no break. Everything is fine. I just need to press the reset button so I can make the right decisions in the near future. As the Terminator said. I’ll be back.
– Garza”
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